Miyamoto thought the first Zelda was "plain"

The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's top franchises, but taking a look back, it seems that its creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, didn't expect it to be so.

In the latest "Iwata Asks" feature, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata commented that Miyamoto's current work on Steel Diver must be plain compared to the other greats that the gaming mastermind has come up with over the years. "Aren't the titles you make the polar opposite of 'plain' things?" asked Iwata.

"Oh, but I think that's just a misunderstanding," Miyamoto replied. "When I was making The Legend of Zelda, it was very plain. (laughs)"

I didn't think that genre would be seen as something so mainstream. I really didn't expect the response I got when I first made The Legend of Zelda. A world of swords and magic really wasn't considered mainstream at the time.

Apparently it was, and The Legend of Zelda continues to be one of Nintendo's biggest names.